Hanwoori Korean Restaurant: Hidden Gem in Serangoon Gardens

The Korean wave is taking the world by storm, and Singapore is no exception to the immense influence of Korean culture. Over the years, we witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of Korean restaurants opening in Singapore and the numbers doesn’t seem to be dying down at all. Now, you can almost find one or two around your neighbourhood. But how can you distinguish which are the better ones to visit? Authenticity? Price? Quality? Variety? Or Service? I’ve been to several Korean restaurants in Singapore (I’m a victim of the Korean wave, and is extremely addicted to Korean food and pop culture) and only has about three that fits my criteria for a good Korean restaurant.

Located in Serangoon Gardens, Hanwoori is a warm and cosy Korean restaurant that offers an extensive range of authentic Korean classics at a very reasonable price. On top of that, they do not use any MSG or preservatives in their dishes (already a super plus point that’s worth visiting). The great hospitality from the owner Joy also makes the dining experience a very memorable one. So, what are you waiting for? Head down to Hanwoori Korean Restaurant with your loved ones to enjoy a delectable spread of Korean food! I guess you can now save on an air ticket to Korea!

Besides from not using MSG or preservatives in their food, Hanwoori also ensures that all their broth/base are freshly made in the morning at 4.30am. Side dishes such as Kimchi and Radish are also prepared daily. The ingredients/condiments are flown all the way from Korea as well.
P/s: You can also try their Ginseng Soup because the Ginseng is freshly flown every month from Geumsang – a country in Korea known for supplying the best ginseng in the world.

You will be greeted with 10 different types of traditional Korean side dishes when you order any meal. My favourites were the Kimchi, Radish, Egg and Anchovies. The Anchovies were so good that my friend purchased one box home!

Shickhye // $3.50
The weather has been so unbearably hot these days and an iced cold Barley tea is needed. Hanwoori’s rendition of Barley Tea was very refreshing and soothing to the throat. They added a good balance of garlic and chilli to enhance the flavour of the barley. Bye heatiness!

Nakjibokkem // $30
This dish is very well-executed – No fishy smell from the squid and the texture of the squid was not too tough or rubbery. The sauce was flavourful and has a subtle spiciness which hits right at the end, and it really goes very well with the squid. One mouthful and trust me, you can’t stop. Damn addictive! By the way, the onions were so darn good as well!

Jajangmyeon // $18
The owner told us that she believes her Jajangmyeon is the best in Singapore and I can’t help to agree after trying it out myself. Black bean sauce was really fragrant and flavourful. It was also not too heavy that you will feel jelat after eating a few mouthfuls. Noodles were amazing – firm and springy. This was slurping good and we finished it in no time! Mix it well before you eat!

BBQ Set 2 // $65
This is super incredible! You don’t have to smell like BBQ or go through the hassle of barbecuing your food because everything is already cooked for you. You just need to enjoy every single bits of it. The set comes with pork belly, beef, sweet potatoes, seasoned mushroom and my favourite onions. Meats were really well-marinated and flavourful! Very value-for-money!

Tips to eat BBQ Set 2:
1) Dip the meat in the sauce
2) Place it in the lettuce
3) Add garlic, onions and mushroom

No wonder Hanwoori has so many regulars! The owner is super-friendly! They are really popular in the Serangoon Gardens but I think if you are not staying there, you should totally pay this restaurant a visit!